Paper 1: The Cold War 1960-1979 1962- Cuban Missile Crisis, end of brinkmanship
è results were that they wanted to prevent nuclear confrontation (came so close and got scared in Cuba): accepted communist Cuba as exception to Monroe doctrine, jointly preserving status quo
relief led to agreement: treaties
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty I: limit ABM, one major missile stockpile, limit is the ability to protect ourselves from missiles (MAD), threat of war would be incentive to keep the peace, 5 year freeze on ABMs, Soviets could have more rockets, US had MERVs and more ballistic missile submarines
SALT II
Link up of space stations
Hot-line to Moscow
Soviets began to pursue polycentrism: Moscow is not the center of the communist world, many centers many forms
Czech in 1968
Romania allowed some autonomy
Albania was Maoist
Sino-Soviet relations deteriorated even more with Khrushchev in charge:
USSR removed all advisers from China
Broke off diplomatic relations
Border skirmishes
Czechoslovakia 1968: Dubcek became party secretary “socialism with a human face”- intended to keep socialist econ system, but be more nationalistè calls came for abandoning communism, not done, but did ease up on censorship, Brezhnev didn’t like this so Warsaw Pact troops invadedè clearly Kremlin was not in control
US was getting deeper into Vietnam
Needed a way out: used linkage
Make better relations with the Soviet and the Chinese who were both supporting the NVA, they will get the north to negotiate a good peace with the US so we can get out with our honor intactè played Sino-Soviet spilt, the China Card, helped détente, countries found way to cooperate for common good
All throughout the period of détente, by proxy wars between the superpowers were fought in the developing world: Israel, Egypt, Angola, Mozambique. Were also finding loopholes in the agreements made
One reason linkage was unsuccessful was because it hinged upon that the US would make concessions in the 3rd world for concessions by the Soviets in Europe, but Willy Brandt, chancellor of W Germany, pursued Ostpolitik and made these concessions unnecessary
Cuban Missile Crisis was turning point: US had not consulted European allies before almost going to nuclear war which would undoubtedly be in Europe
US changed to a policy of graduated deterrence because the Soviets had reached nuclear parity: conventional threat with conventional forces
SALT I: a major deal regarding Europe was reached but without consulting with the European alliesè showed that negotiations with the USSR were possible, encouraging, but wanted a say in it, take own initiative
Brandt: socialist, anti-Hitler resistance in Norway, experience on Cold War frontier- Mayor of W Berlin when wall was built, coalition had huge majority in Bundestag- plenty of support
Moscow Treaty, 1970: recognizes border of Easter Germany as legit, gave up Poland and Czech for good
Warsaw: apologize for Nazi past, what Germany did in E Europe
1973: deal with Czech renouncing Munich Agreements of 1938
overall better relations with the East
Difficulty: East Germany- he is making all these deals on behalf of all Germans which undermines GDR independence, he becomes very popular in E Germany
Honecker: 1972- allowed to visit families across the wall, both Germanys admitted to the UN simultaneously as diff countries
US problem: can’t condemn publicly what Brandt is doing because he is following what they are talking about, but it takes away the incentive for the Soviets to talk to US about détente because negotiating strategy is taken awayè forced to agree to Helsinki Conference
Helsinki, 1972: requested by Warsaw Pact, result of Ostpolitik- Final Act:
All post 1945 borders in Europe were recognized as fixed and inviolable
NATO and Warsaw Pact recognized as having legit spheres of influence
Notify in case of military exercises to avoid tensions
Increased trade
Increase in scientific and cultural exchanges
Human rights recognized as universal
Respect and guarantee human rights within borders
“Helsinki watch” groups
è didn’t anticipate human rights was going to be such a problem in the future
Soviets got stability in Europe, increased econ ties with west, but it also increased econ rivalry
Carter years: US thought they were loosing Cold War, thought they were appeasing the Soviets: dichotomy of Brzezinski (hard line) and Cyrus Vance (détente), fall of the Shah of Iran
On one hand, wanted better relations, pushed human rights, cut military spenditure
But other hand made bold declarations in support of anti-communist movements in many countries, and then increased defense budget, deployed missiles in Europe at NATO request, to dismay of Eur public
Afghanistan, 1979: even USSR was surprised by communist take over of gov’t, but intervention of Iran and the threat of subsequent Shiite muslims rising in USSR republics made Soviets send troopsè became Soviet “Vietnam”
Didn’t think US would intervene: Carter was facing reelection, protect oil in Persian Gulf, show strong face against communism, fueled by econ depression in US, needed to do something
Boycotted Olympics
Cancelled wheat shipments
Increased arms to anti-communists in 3rd world
Secret arms deals with China
Carter Doctrine: Persian Gulf is vital to US security
Didn’t withdraw troops from S Korea
But efforts failed and Carter lost to Reagan in 1980…
1962- Cuban Missile Crisis, end of brinkmanship
One reason linkage was unsuccessful was because it hinged upon that the US would make concessions in the 3rd world for concessions by the Soviets in Europe, but Willy Brandt, chancellor of W Germany, pursued Ostpolitik and made these concessions unnecessary